Chapter 16

Third person point of view

Dev woke up the next day to the alarm. His hands grabbed around trying to find his phone. He finally found it and turned the alarm off. He checked the time and put the phone away. He sat up and opened his eyes in slits. He was still feeling a little sleepy. He looked around the room and groaned. His head felt like it was splitting. 

He held it and whimpered. This was so bad. He felt like puking because of the headache. He quickly got up and went to the bathroom and started puking. He coughed when he was done and gargled. Since he woke up, he decided to get ready. He finished everything and even showered. He dressed up and walked down to the kitchen. 

He saw his mother busily making breakfast. He went to the living room and searched around. He found the aspirin. He went to get water. " Don't take it on empty stomach. Have breakfast first ". His mother said and he nodded. He went and sat at the table. He just stared at the table and gradually zoned out thinking about last night. 

He remembered going out when their gang asked him to. He has been devastated about how things turned out and drank without thinking. He did not even remember how much he drank. He had good tolerance so it was not really a small amount if he had this much of a terrible hangover. He rubbed his temples.

He tried thinking about what happened after that. His head hurt again but he remembered it. His eyes went wide in shock. He remembered Aravind coming to pick him up from the pub and he did not really remember the ride home. But he had a memory of all that that happened after they came back home and all that speech. 

He let out a sigh impressed by his own performance and rubbed his face. He wanted to slap himself. " Might as well become a philosopher ". He told himself and saw his mother coming out with a plate. She put it in front of him. " Here. The chutney is in that bowl ". She said and was about to walk away. Dev turned to her. 

" Was Aravind here when you came back ? " She nodded. " He was the one who opened the door for us. He went home then itself ". Dev nodded. " Why ? " Dev shrugged. " Just asking ". She found it weird but let it be. Dev finished eating and took the tablet. He then went to his room. He sat down on the chair and rested his eyes for a while. 

His headache gradually subsided. Dev opened his eyes and looked at the clock. He still had time before he needs to leave for college. Now that his head has cleared up, he was very well aware of the situation. He kept clicking on the keyboard randomly out of nervousness. He watched as each minute passed till it was time for him to go out. 

Dev quickly picked up his bag, keys, wallet and phone and walked out of the house. He locked the door in a hurry. Like always he took his bike out and sat on it. Dev never knew he would be this nervous while waiting for Aravind. This was a daily thing for them but Dev couldn't get his nerves to calm down. 

He also kept checking his phone just in case Aravind would text him again saying he was not coming or that he is going by himself or anything. He looked around and his eyes landed on Aravind's house again. His eyes went wide when he saw Aravind walk out the door. Dev watched as Aravind walked out of the gate, came up to him and extended his hand. 

He knew he definitely had a dumb expression on his face. But he couldn't help it. Aravind glanced back wondering if there was something behind him. " Helmet ". He asked and Dev still looked dazed. Aravind frowned and snapped his fingers in front of Dev's face. Dev blinked and came back to his senses. 

" Helmet ". Aravind said a little louder and Dev gave it to him this time. Aravind put it on and went to sit on the back. " Let's go ". Aravind said and Dev clumsily started the bike. They drove out to the college. Dev finally felt his nerves calm down a little. " I half expected you to not come ". Dev said looking at Aravind through the mirror. 

Aravind was looking to the side when he heard Dev speak. He met Dev's eyes through the mirror and looked away. " It is too much of a hassle to go in the bus ". Dev chuckled at the nonchalant tone and Aravind also smiled. Maybe, just maybe, Dev saw a little glimmer of hope. If his heart also settled down by half when Aravind came with him. It did fully after his words.

They went to the college and Dev parked the bike. They went to their class and as soon as their gang saw them, they all stared like hawks. Aravind and Dev sat down in the last bench like usual. " How is that relative ? Fine now ? " Arjun asked. Aravind nodded. " Out of danger now ". They all let out a sigh. " And you, sir. What was that yesterday ? Ah ? " 

Abhay asked and Dev just looked at them. " The only conclusion that made sense was that you had a lover we don't know about and you broke up ". Dev laughed at Sushanth's words. " Nothing like that. I just felt like it yesterday, but I drank more than I should have. That's all ". Dev said but they all looked like they didn't buy it. 

" I can't do anything to prove it, but it is the truth ". Dev said without changing his face and Aravind also maintained a poker face. The four guys looked at each other. " Fine. For now, we will very much reluctantly believe that ". Karthik said and the others nodded. Their lecturer walked in and all of them turned to the front. 

Their classes went by in the same manner. It was finally break time and Dev went to the washroom. Aravind was writing notes and looked out to the corridor as students walked by. He looked diagonally and noticed Dev coming towards the classroom. Aravind saw him stop as two girls approached him. 

Dev smiled and replied to them about something and walked away after exchanging a few words. Aravind lowered his head and resumed writing notes as he waited for Dev to come. Dev walked in soon and sat down. He rested his cheek on his fist and turned to Aravind. He was about to speak but Aravind spoke up first. 

" Looks like your headache is gone. Since you can flirt with girls and laugh ". Aravind did not stop writing or look up after saying so. Dev was confused by his words. He sat up straight and looked around not knowing what Aravind was talking about. He looked out of the window in the process and noticed the two girls who he spoke with. 

They were still standing in the same place and he had a full view from where he was sitting. He understood what Aravind meant. Dev turned to Aravind. " Are you jealous ? " Dev asked with a teasing smile. Aravind scoffed and looked up. " I was just teasing. Why would I get jealous ? " He rolled his eyes and went back to writing his notes. 

Dev shook his head with a smile and took out his phone to play some games till the next class. Aravind cursed under his breath and he tried not to exert too much force with the pen in his hand. The bell rang and their classes continued. In the evening, they were finally done with all the classes and went back home. 

-MG